The central characters of Season 2. Top row, left to right: Esteban, MJ, Okane, Emilia, and Luka. Bottom row, left to right: Andi, Dixon, Jana, Sebas.
Rebelde (English: Rebel) is a teen drama series. It is a sequel to the Mexican telenovela Rebelde, which was a remake of the Argentinian TV show Rebelde Way.
Rebelde tells the story of teenagers with varying background who all attend Elite Way School, better known as the EWS.
The first season follows the formation of the titular band and their attempt at winning the legendary Battle of The Bands while being antagonized by the mysterious Lodge. The second season introduces the new director of the Music Excellency Program, Gus Batman, who catalyzes vast change at the Academy.
This series provides examples of:
- Abusive Parents:
- Marcelo Colucci is never happy with Luka's choices, and often threatens Luka with being expelled from school, as he has the power to do that - the second season has him threaten him, and almost go through, with being sent to military school, which Luka fears due to considering it a homophobic environment.
- Andi's first scene makes it clear that she has a complicated relationship with and is scared by her stepfather.
- Bastard Angst: The fact that he isn't his father's biological son and he's actually related to Marcelo is something Esteban has a very hard time accepting at first.
- Battle of the Bands: The main conflict of the first season is Sin Nombre (later renamed Rebelde) trying to compete and win the school's band competition while constantly being sabotaged from within and without.
- Alpha Bitch: Emilia, but it was deconstructed as the show goes on and becomes full on Lovable Alpha Bitch when it comes to Andi.
- Bisexual Love Triangle:
- The first season has Emilia torn between a relationship of appeareances with her ex-boyfriend Sebas and her attraction to Andi. She ends up deciding to live something true instead of staying with a guy she's lost respect for.
- The second season has a clear interest between Okane and Luka from the beginning, but Okane winds up becoming involved with Jana, making Luka think he got the signals wrong for Okane's feelings for him. Okane's thing with Jana was basically only physical, though, and he finds he actually does care about Luka.
- Boarding School: EWS is ridiculously expensive boarding school.
- Broken Pedestal: Initially Dixon is the most excited about Gus becoming the Director of the MEP, but he ends up realizing very quickly that Bauman isn't a man that deserves his respect.
- Cast Full of Gay: Out of the main cast, Luka is gay, Andi is a lesbian, Okane and Emilia are bi, and Dixon only has had relationships with women, but has made it clear that he doesn't really see himself as straight. Supporting cast also has Laura and Ilse, who despite both getting involved with Esteban, also end up involved with each other.
- Gender-Equal Ensemble: In the first season, the main cast has 4 guys and 4 gals. The second season ends up introducing a ninth main character that skews towards men, though.
- Half-Sibling Angst: After Esteban starts trying to win Marcelo's affection, his relationship with Luka (which had never been good) worsens due to Luka feeling like Esteban is the son Marcelo always wished he had, and that he's in a position where he'll be replaced as heir.
- More Diverse Sequel: The Mexican telenovela had very little diversity, with the main cast all being white hetero people. This series has diversity as one of its main points, wanting to be realistic to what a school is actually like.
